The Luther Seminary of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States "God Pause Daily Devotional" for Thursday, 31 March 2016 with John 20:19-31

The Luther Seminary of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States "God Pause Daily Devotional" for Thursday, 31 March 2016 with John 20:19-31John 20:19 In the evening that same day, the first day of the week, when the talmidim were gathered together behind locked doors out of fear of the Judeans, Yeshua came, stood in the middle and said, “Shalom aleikhem!” 20 Having greeted them, he showed them his hands and his side. The talmidim were overjoyed to see the Lord. 21 “Shalom aleikhem!” Yeshua repeated. “Just as the Father sent me, I myself am also sending you.” 22 Having said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Ruach HaKodesh! 23 If you forgive someone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you hold them, they are held.”

24 Now T’oma (the name means “twin”), one of the Twelve, was not with them when Yeshua came. 25 When the other talmidim told him, “We have seen the Lord,” he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my finger into the place where the nails were and put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe it.”

26 A week later his talmidim were once more in the room, and this time T’oma was with them. Although the doors were locked, Yeshua came, stood among them and said, “Shalom aleikhem!” 27 Then he said to T’oma, “Put your finger here, look at my hands, take your hand and put it into my side. Don’t be lacking in trust, but have trust!” 28 T’oma answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Yeshua said to him, “Have you trusted because you have seen me? How blessed are those who do not see, but trust anyway!”

30 In the presence of the talmidim Yeshua performed many other miracles which have not been recorded in this book. 31 But these which have been recorded are here so that you may trust that Yeshua is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by this trust you may have life because of who he is.[Complete Jewish Bible]

Mary Magdalene has gone to the tomb and come back with her Easter message, "I have seen the Lord." It is now evening and the disciples remain fearfully locked up in their room. But Jesus is no longer locked up in the tomb and now he comes to share the power of his resurrection as he hands over the keys of forgiveness.
As a sign to these disciples of their absolution, Jesus announces, "Peace be with you." Now forgiven, they examine the marks of the cross in his hands and side and they rejoice. Yet this gift of peace is not simply intended for the ten gathered there that night. Jesus breathes into them the Holy Spirit and sends them out with the keys to forgive. "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained" (20:23). Just as for these disciples, these keys promise to release others from their locked rooms and deadly tombs.
Lord of Life, your tomb is empty but we still find ourselves entombed by our sinful selves. Send to each of us a preacher, a disciple of your calling, in our baptisms, to bring the key of forgiveness and peace into our locked rooms and tombs just as you came to your first disciples. In the name of the risen Christ we pray. Amen.
Amanda Olson de Castillo
Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, South St. Paul, Minn.
Master of Divinity , 2004
John 20:19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."
20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you."
22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin ), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."
26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."
27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe."
28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"
29 Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book.
31 But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.[New Revised Standard Version]
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